1 88 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



two being shot, in 1904, near the stagnant pool back of the beach at Ipswich. 

 Its note is said to be like that of a Pectoral Sandpiper but finer. 



120 [263] Actitis macularia (Linn.). 

 Spotted Sandpiper; "Teter-peep." 



Common summer resident ; April 20 to November 14. 

 Eggs : May 30 to July 4. 



Not only on the seashore but also inland along the borders of ponds and 

 rivers, the Spotted Sandpiper is a familiar bird. Its eggs are laid near the 

 inland waters, or on the pebbles or sand back of the beaches. It is particularly 

 fond of nesting on islands. I used to find the eggs at Kettle Island off Magno- 

 lia, in the late seventies, and Mr. W. A. Jeffries notes the finding of eleven nests 

 with eggs and one with young at Tinker's Island, off Marblehead, on June 8th, 

 1878. Four nests were in the short grass on high land, " while the others were 

 all found more or less far under the rocks, scattered over the grass or along 

 the shore." Nuttall 1 speaks of their nesting at Egg Rock, off Nahant, "in the 

 immediate vicinity of the noisy nurseries of the quailing Terns." 



The young birds, while still covered with the natal down, run very fast and 

 when hard pressed, take to the water and swim rapidly and easily. 



On the beach, the Spotted Sandpiper rarely strays beyond the dry sand, 

 often in the beach grass, where he hunts for insects and occasionally perches on 

 an old root or piece of wreck. They are particularly fond of pebbly beaches. 

 In the marsh they are common in mudholes, and along the muddy banks of 

 creeks. They alight frequently on posts or on small boats at anchor. When 

 perched, especially if observed, they appear to be embarrassed or nervous, and 

 " teter," the whole body oscillating on the legs as a fulcrum, the head bowing 

 down, the tail up, to be nervously jerked back again. In the spring, this tetering 

 is exaggerated to an extreme extent, and is amusing to behold. 



Their flight is characteristic, for with wings curved vigorously downward, 

 they alternately scale and fly. When disturbed on the edge of a creek they fly 

 in half circles before the intruder, scaling out over the water to return farther 

 on to the bank. 



Their whistle is a loud and easily recognized wheet, wheet. 



1 Thomas Nuttall : A Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada, vol. 2, p. 

 164, 1834. 



